little judgment to combine or arrange, he had great industry in collecting and laying up stores by which others might profit. The facilities afforded me by the Rev. J. Glover, the Librarian of Trinity College, Cambridge, in consulting the manuscripts under his charge, deserve my best acknowledgments. To the gentlemen whose names are subjoined, also, I desire to offer my thanks for obliging communications or references regarding the subject of my biography : The Rev. Joseph Thackeray, Rector of Coltishall and Horstead, Norfolk; the Rev. J. W. Flavell, Rector of Ridlington and East Ruston, Norfolk ; the Rev J. C. Wright, Vicar of Bacton, Norfolk; the Rev. John Gunn, Rector of Irstead, Norfolk; the Rev. Edward Hibgame, Vicar of Fordham, Cambridge; T. L'Estrange Ewen, Esq., Dedham, Essex; the Rev. R. B. P. Kidd, Vicar of Potter Heigham, Norfolk ; the Rev. P. C. Kidd, Vicar of Skipton, Yorkshire; the Rev. C. W. Whiter, Rector of Clown, Derbyshire ; the Rev. T. J. Blofeld, Vicar of Hoveton, Norfolk; Robert Postle, Esq., Kimberley Terrace, Yarmouth. My information concerning the authorship of Gregory Blunt's Letters, I owe to James Yates, Esq., Lauderdale House, Highgate. Dates, in the following narrative, are carefully given, as well as references to authorities wherever they appeared necessary; and nothing is stated, whether authorities are given or not, for which the author did not consider that he had sufficient warrant. The life of such a scholar could hardly be written without exhibiting in its pages some portions of Latin and Greek; but moderation, in this respect, has been studied; and it is hoped that the book is of such a nature on the whole as to be no unacceptable offering to the literary world in general. The notice of the Travisian controversy may appear somewhat long ; but many readers might justly complain if, in the life of the great champion in the contest, they were to find no satisfactory account of the dispute. For the episode on Ireland's Shakspearian forgeries some apology is offered at the part where it is introduced. The plural we, which is used in some passages, might seem to indicate that there are more authors of the work than one ; but it is to be understood that for all faults in the narration I only am responsible. J. S. W. STOCKWELL : April, 1861. CONTENTS. Remarks on Biography. — Its Attractions. — Considerations on Intel- lectual Excellence. Birth of Porson. Character of his Parents. – Ilis Education by his Father, and at a Village School. — Ilis Mani- festations of Talent, and Fondness for Reading.–Specimen of his early Attempts in Poetry. — Ilis Abilities become known to Mr. Hewitt and Mr. Norris. — He is sent to Cambridge to be examined by the Greek Professor and others. — Their Report of him. — Mr. Norris resolves to raise a Fund for his Education. - It is proposed to place him at Porson at Eton.- Dr. Goodall's Account of him. — What he knew when he went to Eton, and what he learned there. - His Memory. — Ilis Dislike of Composition. — Anecdotes. — Death of Mr. Norris. - Porson liberally patronised by Sir George Baker. - His Illness at Eton. Notice of his Drama,“Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire," written and acted at Eton.- A Specimen of his School Verses. — His mind turned to Critical Research.-His Estimation of Dawes and Bentley 16 His Habits. - His Literary Projects. His first Essay in reviewing. - His desire to edit Æschylus. — His Proposals ill received by the Syndics of the University Press. - Is much discouraged. --- Never Porson's Review of Brunck's Aristophanes ; of Weston's Hermesianax; of IIuntingford's “ Apology for his Monostrophics.” — Remarks on Dawes. - The “Learned Pig.” — Letters to the “ Gentleman's Magazine" on Hawkins's “Life of Johnson." Notice of Robertson's Essay on the Parian Chronicle. — Letter on Heyne's application for CHAP. V. Porson resolves not to enter the Church. In consequence is obliged to resign his Fellowship. Meets with Travis's “Letters to Gibbon on 1 John v. 7." - Porson's “ Letters to Travis” in the “ Gentleman's Magazine. View of the Controversy. - Editions of the New Testa- ment by Erasmus, Robert Stephens, Beza, and others. Luther and the Reformers.—How Porson's thoughts were turned to the subject.- Travis's show of Arguments. · Replies to them. Tertullian, Cyprian, Jerome. - The Vulgate. — Jerome's “Prologue to the Canonical Epistles." — Laurentius Valla's Manuscripts. — Modern Versions. — Origin of the Text; probably from St. Augustine. Porson's Conclusion.-General Character of the Style of the Letters 55 CHAP, VI. Contemporary Criticism on the “ Letters to Travis." Parr, Burney. - Porson's sarcastic manner of Writing. Anecdote of Bishop Watson. - Porson loses a great Patroness. — Bishop Burgess's Attacks on Porson's book after his Death. – Vindicated by Dr. Turton, Bishop of Ely. Instances of Travis's Ignorance and Obtuseness. Porson's Critique on Gibbon. Gibbon's Opinion of the “ Letters.” — Porson's Interview with Gibbon. - A Remark of Fox on Gibbon's Quotations 78 CHAP. VII. Porson's Notes on Toup's Emendations of Suidas. Ilis Preface to that Publication, showing the nature of his Criticism. — Porson with Parr at latton. — Insulted by Mrs. Parr. — Porson's Resignation of his Fellowship. - His Dialogue with Postlethwaite, the Master of Trinity College. — His want of Money, and resolute Frugality. – A Subscrip- tion to purchase an Annuity for him. Particulars respecting it. — A Porson a Candidate for the Greek Professorship. — His Letter to Postle- thwaite on the occasion. Is elected. — Ilis inaugural Lecture on Euripides. - Is gratified by the Distinction of the Appointment. — Intends to read Lectures, but finds no Encouragement from the Uni- Porson's Review of Edwards's Edition of the Treatise on Education attri- buted to Plutarch. — Remarks on Correction of Texts by Editors. - An acute Emendation. — London Edition of Ileyne's Virgil ; Porson had little concern with it. Parr's Panegyricon Porson. Re- view of Payne Knight on the Greek Alphabet. — Considerations on Porson's Intentions regarding Æschylus. — Projected Edition by the London Publishers. — An Edition of Æschylus surreptitiously printed at Glasgow from Porson's Corrections.—Porson's Sagacity and Caution CIIAP. XI. Porson's intimacy with Perry, of the “Morning Chronicle." - Ilis Marriage with Perry's Sister. His Mode of spending the Wedding- day and the following Night. — Effect of his Marriage on his Habits. – Perry’s Influence with him. — Ilis ill Health. – His Transcript of Photius destroyed by the burning of Perry's House. -Ile makes |